Speeches

Statement - Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements

September 06, 2017

I too, following on from Senator Macdonald, want to talk about regional Queensland. Specifically, in the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to travel to the federal seat of Dawson and the federal seat of Hinkler with federal Labor leader Bill Shorten. It was a really interesting visit because we were able to focus on a number of issues which were illustrative, I think, of the position that this government is in. But it was also an...

Statement - Trade Unions, Energy

August 17, 2017

For the second time today, what we've seen is a conspiracy theory wrapped in a smear. That's all we've heard from Senator Abetz opposite. We heard it this morning with the government's attempted effort to censure Senator Wong, and we've seen it again this afternoon. It is just nothing more than a conspiracy wrapped in a smear. It is what we have come to expect from this dysfunctional government. As an Australian Workers' Union member of long s...

Questions Without Notice: Energy, Pauline Hanson's One Nation

August 17, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (15:21): I, too, want to support the words of Senator Dastyari. I know that when we got to the task of taking note today we were intending to focus on the first question that was asked of Senator Scullion, around power. But, obviously, some events have overtaken that, and I think they are of a serious nature. I acknowledge the comments from the Liberals, those who have so far made a contribution in this debate, a...

August 16, 2017

Following on from Senator Whish-Wilson on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Bill 2017, I do look forward to joining him in North Queensland in the week after next. As a Queensland senator—and I identified this in my first speech—the Great Barrier Reef is something that I dedicate a lot of my time to, to ensure that the party has a very strong policy framework when it comes to dealing with the reef. I certainly would echo his critici...

August 15, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (15:25): I, too, wish to speak about the dysfunction we're seeing from the government on section 44 of the Constitution. I think that Senator Wong outlined the ridiculousness of the arguments the government have been putting around the Kiwis under the bed. My colleague Senator Watt highlighted the inconsistencies from the legal arguments we have seen from those opposite, particularly from the Attorney-General, Ge...

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Australia

August 14, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (17:27): What we have seen from those opposite in this debate is the fact that we do need a new vision for this country, because what we've seen is a really motley crew of an excuse for what they tried to elaborate as their vision for this government. But the reality is we have seen no vision from them. All we have seen is slogans that mean nothing and deliver less for the Australian people. There has been no bet...